Animal Farm as an Allegory - (shared copy)

Essential Questions: How can a work of literature symbolically capture and describe a corrupt leader and society, and at the same time not reveal its identity? (This, historically, has often been the role of allegorical literature; for example, Aesop's Fables were written by Aesop during the time of Greek tyrants, and many of his stories had wisely and cleverly concealed messages about tyrannical kings.) How do allegories work smoothly and believably on both literal and symbolic levels?

Topical Questions: How does Animal Farm use the literary device of allegory to portray people, events, and places in the Soviet Union? How does the story work on both a literal level as a "farm story," and on a symbolic level as a parable about the Soviet Union?

Enduring Understandings: Students will know that authors who write allegorical literature put considerable thought and creativity into developing a consistent and coherent vision that works on both a literal and symbolic level.

Topical Understandings: Through this activity, our readings, and class discussion, students will identify the major characters, places, and events in Animal Farm and their historical parallels or correlates in the USSR.

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